Self-measuring lace-cabinet



(Nol/maal.)

' -2 sheets-sheet 1. G. M. THOMPSON. SELF MEASURING LAGE BINET.

Patentedeb..91a9v.

7 y (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. M. THOMPSON. SELF MBASURING LACE CABINET.

No. 576,796. l Patented Peb. 9, 1897.

1' E mums PETERS cc;4 nom-urna. wAsHmnrou o c UNITED STATES i ATENT OFFICE..

GEORGE M. THOMPSON, OF SCHOGHOH, KENTUCKY.

SELF-MEASU RING LACE-CABINET.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 576,796, dated February 9, 1897. Application filed October 1, 1895. Renewed December 10,1896. Serial No. 615,234. (No model.)

T0 tZZ whom, it muy concern,K

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. THOMPSON, residing at Schochoh, in the county of Logan and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and Improved Self-Measuring Lace-Cabinet, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improved store-service apparatus to be placed upon the counter or upon other suitable support. More particularly stated, the invention is an improved cabinet for displaying laces and similar goods.

The invention also comprehends an irnproved measuring and indicating attachment whereby the lace contained within the cabinet can be reeled therefrom and measured, and the indicator will show the total amount of lace sold.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of reel upon which the lace to be sold is wound, the construction of said reel being such that the lace can be quickly and easily removed therefrom and the same will be folded in regular order for wrapping..

With these and such other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, my invention consists of the peculiar construction and arrangement of the various parts, all of which will be fully described, and then pointed out in the appended claims.

In theA drawings forming part ofthe speciiication, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved cabinet, showing the same filled with lace, some of said lace being drawn from said cabinet. Fig; 2 is a detail view showing a portion of the interior mechanism. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4t is a detail transverse vertical seotion, and Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the manner of connecting the lace-spool to the winding-axle. Fig. 6 shows a further detail.

In carrying out my invention I employ case or cabinet A, within which are arrangedy a series of lace-holding spools B, said spools being arranged on horizontal shafts or axles O, held within notches d in the upright strips D, secured within the case. The shafts and axle C project through the case at the end, and at one end are provided with crank-handles C', by means of which said shafts are rc# volved when it is desired to wind lace thereon.

The shafts C are arranged in horizontal series, and each shaft carries a number of lace-spools B, each spool being independent of the other and of any width desired. In order to connect each spool with its respective shaft and axle, I construct each shaft with a longitudinal groove C", in which is forced a key b,pivoted to the head ofthe spool and held into engagement with the groove by means of a lever b', workin g through a guide b2, and said key has a certain inherent elasticity which will hold said key out of engagement with the groove, so that the lace can readily be unwound from the spool, and when it is desired to connect the spool and axle the lever is turned, as in Fig. 5. The spool, however, is provided with a frictionbrake E, which is attached to the upright D and bears upon t-he spool-head, said brake retardingthe movementof the spool sufficiently and always keeping the lace tant while un winding.

In withdrawing the lace it is first passed beneath a fixed tension-bar F, then over a roller G, under another tension-bar F', and out beneath the edge of a hinged door H, having a glass panel 71. and a rounded lower edge h3.

The lace is then reeled upon a reel K, adj ustably mounted upon a shaft K', provided at its endwith a crank lo. There is preferably a shaft K' for every shaft C, said shaft K' being detachably mounted on a frame K2, connected with the front of cabinet and having notches K3, in which the shafts rest.

The reels K are adjustably mounted on t-he shaft K', so they can be quickly moved opposite any desired spool, and these reels are composed of a series of arms K4, free at one end, so that by compressingrthe said arm the lace which has been wound thereon can be readily removed, and it willbe noted that said lace is th en folded ready for wrapping. One of the arms is preferably formed with barb or spurs Kto grasp and straighten the lace upon the reel. The rollers G, one for each spool B, are roughened or corrugated, so that the lace passing thereon will cause the same to revolve and then the shaft g, upon which the said rollers are mounted, there being as many shafts g as there are shafts C.

Mounted upon the shaft g, adjacentto each roller G, is a worm-gear g', which meshes with a worm-gear g2, carried upon the inner end IOO ol' an arbor g3, carrying indicating-hands gl and g5, and its outer end, which, in connec tion with the dial L and movable indicatordisk M, shows the measure of lace reeled off.

The dial L may be divided accordingly, as desired, but in the present instance I have shown the same divided into ten parts, and the movable indicator is shown as having six points or teeth. The short hand g4 is detachable from the arbor g3, while the long hand g4 is fixed. The purpose of this is as follows: The roller G and gears are so constructed that when a yard of lace has been unwouiid from its spool the long and short hand will in the first instance start at 1. After this purchase it is preferred to detach the short hand and move it back to O. Now we will suppose the second purchase to be ten yards. l The long` hand being' at l will swing completely around and, striking the first point of indicator M, will turn the same and show that ten yards have been sold. The longhand will afterward stand at l on the dial L, showl filled, emptied, or manipulated in any desired l manner without affecting the other. Each spool also has an attaching-tape T, to which the lace is connected, said tape being long enough to extend outside the case, so thatj the lace can be easily pinned thereto without opening` the hinged doors II.

Spring-catches 7L'L are attached to the end of case adjacent to each door H, said catches being employed to hold said door raised or open. the face of the casing, the purpose of which i l i l l Small hooks h5 are also attached to is to catch the lace and prevent it being drawn back into the case or cabinet.

In Fig. G I have shown the form of wheel employed in unwinding a bolt of lace and feeding the same to the spools, and by reference to said ligure it will be seen that said reel comprises a tubular spindle S, which is filled upon the shaft K', and journaled upon said spindle is a block S', carrying the reclarms S2, adjustable 'through the medium ol' slots s and set-screws s'. These arms carry fixed fingers s2 at one end and pivoted lingers s3 at the opposite end, said fingers serving to hold the lace upon the reel. Between the arms S2 is m ounted a spreader-frame S3, which is adapted to be turned at right angles to the plane of arms S2, so as to give the bolt a better form foi' unwinding. The reel is first placed inside the bolt and the fingers turned out. rl`he reel is then placed on the shaft and the spreadersframe turned, as shown. The unreeling operation can then be carried on.

Vhile I have shown the case as single it can also be made double.

I have also shown the case supported upon,

a display-case portion N, having a rollingl top n, similar to desk, and within said portion can be displayed various samples ol' lace.

From the above description, taken in con iiectioii with the aceompanyin g drawings, it

is thought the operation of my device will be clear to every one.

Having thus described my invention, what l. claim, and desire to secure by Letters Vlatent, is-

1. In a device ol the character described, the combination with the notched upright strips of the grooved shafts, the spools having keys and levers, and the friction-brake attached to the upright strips and bearing on the spool substantially as shown and described.

2. In a device of the character described the combination with a reel composed of a series of arms free at one end, one of the said arms being barbed substantially as shown and described.

GEO. M. THOMPSON.

\Vitnesses:

W. F. ANDREWS, E. J. REID. 

